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This online gardening community is different, political, and organic. I decided to start these forums so gardeners would have a free place to discuss heirloom gardening, gene-altered food, seed saving, natural politics and products. We are dedicated to saving our food and horticultural heritage, and hope you enjoy this forum for the free-thinking gardener!
Wishing you great gardening,
Jere Gettle

"Cob is a very old method of building with earth and straw or other fibers. It is quite similar to adobe in that the basic mix of clay and sand is the same, but it usually has a higher percentage of long straw fibers mixed in. Instead of creating uniform blocks to build with, cob is normally applied by hand in large gobs (or cobs) which can be tossed from one person to another during the building process. The traditional way of mixing the clay/sand/straw is with the bare feet; for this reason, it is fairly labor intensive. ..."

You can make really unique shapes with the cob technique. I saw a photo of one house, which pretty much looked like a big toadstool, very whimsical. Another photo showed a house which had no corners, everything was rounded.

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"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall be led toward the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."
-1 Nephi 17:13, Book of Mormon

I would love to come if I can. I think that you are supposed to do a paint wash or similar every few years, which keeps it protected. I think cob homes are beautiful! I saw one pic of a house that used colorful bottles as little round windows.

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"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy-they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

"Who does not thank for little, will not thank for much."
Estonian Proverb

"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door."
Emily Dickinson

"Cob is a very old method of building with earth and straw or other fibers. It is quite similar to adobe in that the basic mix of clay and sand is the same, but it usually has a higher percentage of long straw fibers mixed in. Instead of creating uniform blocks to build with, cob is normally applied by hand in large gobs (or cobs) which can be tossed from one person to another during the building process. The traditional way of mixing the clay/sand/straw is with the bare feet; for this reason, it is fairly labor intensive. ..."

Look familiar?

The same principal behind Earth Ovens!- I wonder if they could build an oven right into the wall so that you could heat part of the house with it?

__________________Good, better, best, never let it rest, till your good is better and your better, BEST!

Disclaimer: All posts by Em are Opinions.
and censoring really sucks thanks for nothing

The parents of a friend of mine had a brick oven built into (above) their brick fireplace. It looks really good. Has a nice glass oven door on it and a rack inside. It is a big fireplace. It is open on the front and the back, so it gives heat to the kitchen/family room, as well as the more formal living room.